Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-09-09
THE SEAL FISHERIES.
The Clever Dodge OF the british for
Griyiug the Seals Downte
the Coast.

the Coast.
A Washington letter says; The seal
fishery question is again agitating the
minds of the State Department,
although it appears to be out OF their
power to do anything as regards a set
Element Of the matter. The repsenta-
tives Of the British Government are
making very vigorous complaints
against the manner In which
the Canadian sealers are treated
in Alaskan waters. So far the
vessels seized by the reyenue-cut-
tiers have ell been released because
Of the lack OF evidence of their
killing seal within the prescribed hne
from Cape Prince OF Wales TO Alton
island, one of the Blijnie group. 1t
has been intimated that the officers OF
the revenue-cutters have been over
Jealous on account of the prize-money
they would receive should the captured
vessel be confscated aud sold. This
charge has not yet been made openly,
but the complaints against the captain
Oh the Rush are Of such a nature that
little else could be imagined. The one
American seal company permitted TO
carry on business in Alaskan waters
has been complaining of the ruthless
manner in which seal are destroyed by
the Canadian sealers passing through
waters under United States control.
"St. George and ST. Paul islands ere
probably the greatest breeding-grOun
for seal in the world" said Dr. War
ton. solicitor of the State Department,
an authority, to representative, "blt
the slightest invasion OF their haunts IS
sufficient TO drive them hundreds of
miles into the impenetrable Arctic re-
gions." This the British sealers are
endeavoring to do only from the north
side, so as to drive the seal south on to
Canadian shores, where they can be
slaughtered at the pleasure OF the
hunters. To certain extent the
Canadians have succeeded, and from
some of the smaller islands near
the st. George and the St Paul
the seal have been driven of. The
poachers in killing seal in American
waters use rifles, shooting them at a
distance, often fifty or sixty yards. In
nine cases out Of ten after having sunk
the dead seal never come to the surface,
so that several times the quantity Sc
cured are lost. American sealers stated
that the beaches on the seal-breeding
islands are covered with carcasses
washed up by the currents and surf
from the deep sea, where they were
shot by the Canadians. The Americans
and natives are only permitted to use
the harpOon at sea, and only on shore
can the gun be utilized, and then only
on rare occasions, the report OF the
piece being sufficient 70 scare away the
seal, which, after having once depart I'd
under such circumstances, never re-
turns.
When the United States steamer
Thotis, commanded by Lieutenant En-
CRY, of Arctic fafne, arrives in the
Alaskan seas there is likely to be
general reform in the fishery business.
Lieutenant Emory will receive his
orders in a few days at San Francisco,
for which port he is now bound. A
strict watch will be kept on st. George
and St Paul islands so as TO prevent
any incursion by the poachers. The
revenue. cutters will continue to cruise
from point to point, making seizures.
The Thetis will more particularly watch
the breeding-grounds.
The appearance of two steam fisher
men has aroused the suspicious OF tue
Americans, who think they are to be Gu
gagged in illicit sealing. Their appear
ance inside the limit will be followed by
seizure in case sealskins are discovered
on board. The cutter Corwin has just
received a general overhOuling at San
Francisco, and is regarded as a very
feet craft and can overtake any vessel
entering the Alaskan station.
1t is thought mt the Department OF
State that Congressman Thomas b.
Reed. of Maine, who has just returned
to Portland from a prolonged trip III
Alaska, where he studied the question,
will endeavor to secure a settlement OF
the difficulty in the next Congress.